Photography Suitcase
Can I take film through an airport without it being ruined?
I’m travelling to Washington DC from Heathrow in a few weeks and was planning on taking my ActionSampler camera with me in my hand luggage, as it’s not the sturdiest of cameras and i dread to think how it would last if it was in my suitcase getting thrown around.
I bought several roles of Kodak UltraMax 400 – i know it’s hardly high-quality film, but I’m not looking to do any serious photography while I’m there, but I’m aware that film can be affected by the X-ray scanners, and it would be heartbreaking to take photos of my trip just to have them ruined.
Where is the safer place to carry my film – hand luggage or checked luggage? Will the scanners have a noticible affect on my film? If it was a case of the images becoming slightly more grainy or somethign like that it wouldn’t be a huge deal as i was never going to capture a perfect image with a lomo cam anyway
Thanks in advance
NEVER put film in your checked luggage, ever. You will almost definitely get x-ray damage that looks like this: http://www.zonezero.com/zz/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=516%3Abaggage-x-ray-scanning-effects-on-film&catid=5%3Aarticles&directory=9&lang=en
That site also has a lot of useful information about traveling with film.
I work at a pro lab with many photographers who shoot internationally. Despite what security workers will tell you, even 400 speed can get damaged by x-rays. I have seen x-ray damage ruin film from an entire fashion shoot that was shot on 400 speed.
The best option is to request a hand check for film when you take it with you through security. It is very difficult to have this done at Heathrow and completely up to their discretion. Here in the U.S., they have to hand check film if you request it. I usually print a copy of the rules from the TSA website, in case a security worker isn’t aware that you’re allowed to request a hand check. Those rules are here: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1035.shtm
You can simply tell them it has been underexposed, or that you plan to push-process the film. They have no way of knowing. Set aside a little extra time for the hand check, just in case.
Because it is so hard to guarantee a hand check at Heathrow, your best bet would be just to buy film in the U.S. You can process it here or just request a hand check when going through security returning to England.
PS I’ve used lead bags 4 times before. Twice, it went through okay. Twice, they said they can’t see through it in the x-ray scanner and asked me to dump out the contents. Despite what the other person said, lead bags aren’t going to harm you unless you eat them.
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